Following last week’s preview in the Forza Monthly stream, Playground Games has lifted the bonnet on the new Forza Horizon 5 Upgrade Heroes series.
Revealed during the latest Let’s ¡Go! show, the next Forza Horizon 5 series adds four new cars plus a new test track location and the return of Donut Media in a new Horizon Story campaign.
Forza Horizon 5 Upgrade Heroes reward cars revealed
Starting this week on 22 June, several new cars are coming to Forza Horizon 5 in the Upgrade Heroes series. This series is themed around extreme performance and modified cars designed to tear up the track.
Headlining the series is the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, one of the most highly requested cars by the community. A hardcore variant of the standard Mercedes-AMG GT, the Black Series is a beast, with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 720 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.
This setup combined with its aggressive aero enabled the Black Series to rocket from 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and blitz the Nurburgring in six minutes and 43 seconds.
The series reward cars are the Pagani Huayra BC for 80 points and new-to Forza #64 Nissan Z Formula Drift car for 160 points based on the all-new Nissan Z car.
Three more cars are also returning from past Forza Horizon games: the GMC Syclone, GMC Typhoon and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series.
Horizon Racing Car Pack
In addition to the free reward cars, a separate Horizon Racing Car Pack will be available to purchase on 20 June.
This pack adds four high-performance cars tuned for the track, including the Forza debut of the potent Pagani Huayra R track car as well as the Nissan Altimaniac, Lotus Emira, and Saleen Sportruck. It can only be bought separately, so it won’t be included in the Car Pass. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
As always, the Let’s ¡Go! provided a full rundown of the Upgrade Heroes Festival Playlists. Completing the Horizon Story also wins you the Nissan 350Z High Car or Low Car depending on which team you join.
Summer
In the Summer playlist, you can win the highly requested 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series for 20 points and Lynk & Co 03+ for 40 points.
Other reward cars in this season include the Honda S2000, 1971 Nissan GT-R, and Renault 5 Turbo.
Autumn
Moving onto Autumn, for 20 points you can win the GMC Syclone, a monter pickup truck returning from Forza Horizon 4 that can outrun Ferraris in a drag race. The HDT VK Commodore can also be yours for 40 points.
Completing challenges will win you the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, Datsun S10 and 1969 Dodge Charger. Other Autumn reward cars are yet to be confirmed.
Winter
Winter’s festival playlist features the GMC Typhoon for 20 points and 1990 Porsche 911 Singer for 40 points. You can also win the 2015 Audi RS6 and 2005 Honda NSX-R, but the other reward cars weren’t revealed.
Spring
Finally, Spring’s season progress reward cars are the Mercedes-Benz SL65 for 20 points and Eagle Speedster for 40 points. You can also win the Lexus RC F, 1998 Toyota Supra, 1997 BMW M3, and Peugeot 205 R by completing challenges.
New Test Track location
Teased in last year’s Donut Media series, Upgrade Heroes also adds a new Test Track location on the map. This location can be used to test vehicles and see how installing upgrades affects performance and handling.
You can enter the Test Track solo or in a convoy with friends and you don’t have to pay for upgrades installed until you leave.
Donut Media Hi-Low Horizon Campaign
Upgrade Heroes also marks the return of the automotive YouTube channel Donut Media. Named after the popular series, the 13-chapter Donut Media Hi-Lwo Horizon Story sees you join the High or Low team, modify a project car and enter challenges to find out if cheap or expensive upgrade parts are better.
Playground Games presented the opening chapter in the stream, which sees you drive the new Nissan Z for the Hi team and Nissan 350Z for the Lo team. A new mechanic allows cars to break down, but it’s not clear if this is possible outside the campaign. One scenario shows the Nissan 350Z Low Car’s engine overheating.
As well as the Donut Media Nissan 350Z Hi-Low Cars, you'll get to drive and unlock the 1994 Ford Supervan 3 Donut Media Edition and 1996 Formula Drift #51 Donut Media Nissan 240SX.
Summer Party
Playground Games ended the show with a teaser for the next series. Starting on 20 July, the Summer Party series will add another new Horizon Story plus new cars, a “Summer Party makeover” and a new collectable.